26/01/2017 Midlands Today

Warnings from the military in Shropshire that drones could collide

It's only a matter of time, I think, before we have a collision.

Production soars by 11% at Solihull's Jaguar Land Rover.

And two patients have died within six weeks of each other

at University Hospital Coventry after being sent home from A and E.

And upset about how she'd been treated.

She told me they told her she was a time waster.

There are warnings this lunchtime from the military in Shropshire

who say it is only a matter of time, before one of its aircrafts

collides with a drone, causing a potential disaster.

RAF pilots in the area say they're seeing an increasing number

They're asking people to contact them if they see drones

Our special correspondent Peter Wilson has been investigating.

They've been flying here for 100 years.

There's not much that scares these men and women, but

the defence helicopter flying school has a new enemy - drones.

It's only a matter of time, I think, before we have a collision.

We have had reported sightings in various parts

of Shropshire, over Nesscliffe Training Area and over

Telford and even though drones are only supposed to be flown

up to 400 feet, these have been spotted at up

Drones are remote-controlled aircraft costing as little as ?50.

Last Christmas, one UK retailer sold 30,000.

So concerned by the RAF about drones that they're saying to people living

in Shropshire, if you see a drone flying, phone the RAF.

At Harper Adams University in Shropshire, the next generation

of drones are being developed for the farming industry.

The researchers are working closely with the RAF

to make sure their drones are safe.

So, cloudy day, lights work really well.

On really bright, sunlit days, you can't see

lights too well, hence mirrors on this system here.

The disco balls allowing it to actually be visualised

by flashing light from the strongest source of the sun.

More than 50 flights a day take-off from Shawbury.

A helicopter crews pray that they won't be the first

One of the biggest employers in the West Midlands has reported

Jaguar Land Rover made 544,000 vehicles in 2016.

The news means JLR remains the largest car manufacturer in

It's news that will be welcomed by thousands

of employees at the company, not to mention the local businesses

But with Brexit looming, what does the future hold?

Our reporter Vishala Sri Pathma is on the factory floor

Vishala, these figures look like good news

Well, it is good news. I'm here at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull.

Jaguar Land Rover are now the biggest car-maker in the UK for the

second year running. Closely followed by Sunderland's Nissan

factory. So it is good news, positive. Last year, car production

was 1.7 million which is the highest it has been since 1999. Earlier, I

spoke to the sales director at JL are and he is very optimistic about

the future. From our perspective,

we've not changed You know, we've got a huge

ambition and we're keeping steadfast on our particular plans

and so far, you know, our sales performance

has not missed a beat. And so he's pretty optimistic about

the future and, as he should be. He has just become the second year

running the biggest car-maker in the UK. With a future with the European

Union, the trading relationship under a bit of question because of

how tariff free access is going to be, earlier on I spoke to some of

the employees here. They are pretty confident. Pin-mac Prep proud of the

company really. It seems everyone has been working hard and it seems

to be picking up and everyone has a bright future for it. Proud to work

year, proud to be part of the company. It's so well. So, yes,

pretty positive about the future. Tariff free access will be key for

the car industry. It is interesting to see what kind of deal Theresa May

and Government will have the European going forward. Thank you.

A major fire in Wolverhampton is still alight, but under control.

At its peak the blaze at the AP Paper and Tissue factory

saw 100 firefighters trying to put it out.

There are currently still around 40 firefighters on the scene.

The unit, on Wobaston Road in Fordhouses,

People living nearby have been advised to keep doors

Two patients have died six weeks apart after being sent home

from accident and emergency in Coventry with a known condition.

They both had an aortic aneurysm - a swelling of the body's

main blood vessel - which if it bursts can be fatal.

Both families blame a crisis in the NHS for the death

Our Health Correspondent, Michele Paduano,

This was June Foxwell on holiday last March.

She suffered from high blood pressure and on August 22nd,

following a scan, she was diagnosed

with an aortic aneurysm, a bulge in a large artery in her tummy.

Her family are still trying to come to terms with her treatment.

After being sent home from A and E twice, she collapsed 11 hours

University Hospital Coventry wouldn't answer any detailed

questions but said it was working with the coroner to address all the

But the coroner has already held an inquest into a death

that occurred six weeks before Mrs Foxwell's

The father of prominent Labour MP Toby Perkins died

after being put in a taxi and sent home from University Hospital.

Mr Perkins was shocked it could happen again.

It is very worrying that the pressures that are on the

National Health Service, on the University Hospital

in Coventry particularly in this case, are such that the hospital

are constantly having to make decisions about sending people home

that really should be in hospital beds.

She told me they told her she was a time waster and a malingerer.

June used to count home their racing pigeons,

Her husband is having to come to terms now with life without her.

A 37-year-old man has denied causing religiously aggravated

criminal damage at a Sikh temple in Leamington Spa during a protest

Kulvinder Bir Singh of Tilehurst drive in Coventry,

is alleged to have destroyed signs relating to the wedding ceremony

inside the temple in Leamington Spa last year.

Well, it's been really cold bitterly cold outside today.

Is it likely to get any warmer, Shefali?

It is, yes. But as you point out, the cold is the most outstanding

feature of today. Otherwise, a sense of nothingness really. Dull, dreary,

but at least it is dry. However, it will not look like that for the rest

of the week. There is likely to be patchy rain around. Turning milder

but the best of the brightness looks like it will be on Friday morning

and through much of Saturday. This is today. We have this big clump of

cloudy right across as as you can see from the satellite picture from

earlier on. That is pinning down temperatures to between 0 degrees

and two Celsius. At the wind-chill factor to that and we are talking -2

2-6 is what it will feel like. You can see from the blue tinges that

the temperatures are struggling. The cloud is just part of the story. The

results or cold continental air being sucked up from the south and

that will continue the cooling down processed through this evening and

overnight as indeed will be cloud breaking up. That will be

temporarily filling in again. There will be a widespread frost tonight

and we will have some snow on wet surfaces and ice on untreated roads

which could be a hazard. Temperatures plummeting 2-3 C, just

the odd missed patchy and there. Tomorrow morning, a largely dry day

but cloud thickening for the afternoon ahead of a frontal system

pushing in from the West for Friday evening.

Later in Midlands Today at half past six, we'll be hearing from a mother

from Warwickshire who wants cannabis oil prescribed

to her five-year-old son to help treat his chronic epilepsy.

That's with Mary Rhodes this evening.

But from me and the lunchtime team, it's bye for now.

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